Continuous positive airway pressure and pulmonary and circulatory function after cardiac surgery in infants less than three months of age

Abstract

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was used to support the ventilation of infants less than 3 mth of age who had undergone thoractomy for cardiovascular surgery. The functional residual capacity, which was approximately 30% of predicted at zero COAP, increased 35% in cyanotic and 33% in acyanotic infants with the application of 5 mm Hg pressure. Increasing airway pressure from zero to 5 mm Hg increased Pa(O2) 4% in cyanotic and 13% in acyanotic infants. There was no change in heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure, pH or Pa(CO2) under similar circumstances, but central venous pressure increased 1.5 mm Hg in cyanotic and 0.8 mm Hg in acyanotic infants.